United turn to cut-price Carvalho

Manchester United will renew their interest in William Carvalho after Sporting Lisbon lowered their valuation of the Portugal international.

United boss Louis van Gaal is desperate for a defensive midfielder following a woeful start to the season, which has seen them pick up one point from two games in the Premier League before being knocked out of the League Cup by MK Dons.

United have already dealt with Sporting this summer, with Marcos Rojo headed to Old Trafford in a deal that saw winger Nani go the other way non loan and The Times is reporting that the Portuguese club are willing to drop below Carvalho's buy-out clause of €45 million (£36m), with an offer of €30m (£24m) likely to be enough.

One man who has made the move to United - £59.7m British record signing Angel Di Maria - will be officially unveiled on Thursday and is expected to be handed the club's famous No.7 shirt.

Pablo Zabaleta, the Manchester City defender, is excited about having his international team-mate in the Premier League - even if it is for his club's closest rivals.

"United have signed one of those players every club in the world would like to have," he said. "He's fast, direct, sets up goals and can score them. He will be a great signing for them."